banter

Every moment, whether dominated by a “Halloween”-inspired ghoul or the grammar-correcting banter of mutually exasperated colleagues, is played straight and for all their initial nods to trope, every character is uniquely and thoroughly human.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Part of that is pointing out when locker room banter crosses the line.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

But beneath the banter lies a more complicated and character-defining social dynamic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

What they first cultivate with silly banter and lighthearted ad-libs eases into a more vulnerable, introspective atmosphere, comparable to a cathartic therapy session.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

“Not much for banter, are you?” she said, giving a brief, disappointed sigh.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Bergstrom, 41, spends most nights on a live-shopping app called Whatnot, where hosts like him auction collectibles in real time to an audience that simultaneously banters and bids on his goods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

He is a regular presence on social media, where he banters with the public.

From New York Times ● May 11, 2023

But he makes frequent appearances on Israeli TV and radio, displaying a cheerful demeanor, quit wit and knack for deflecting criticism as he banters with his hosts.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2022

On the campaign trail, Duterte-Carpio banters with her audience and switches easily back and forth between Tagalog, effectively the national language, and Visayan, a language of the central and southern Philippines and her mother tongue.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2022

As she approaches the pair the song grows livelier, and at its close she banters poor Santuzza with biting sarcasms, and assails Turridu with all the arts of coquetry.

From The Standard Operas (12th edition) Their Plots, Their Music, and Their Composers by George P. (George Putnam) Upton

During the launch of a curriculum with Sesame Workshop, Chan bantered with Elmo in a promotional video.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

When I met an Australian guy named Aaron out at a gay bar one night, it felt easy and light; we bantered well, and he had big dimples, and I was myself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2024

Welsh actors Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Jonathan Pryce bantered about who was the more Welsh on the set of their latest film, its director has said.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024

At their joint event on Thursday, Ms. Reynolds and Ms. DeSantis bantered onstage and even exchanged a high-five.

From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2023

Assuming that the rest of his team would be appearing shortly, Beidleman snapped some photos, bantered with Boukreev, and sat down to wait.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Nostalgic fans witnessed the brothers hugging and bantering on stage during their gigs, marking a new direction for the rock stars who had spent more than a decade publicly insulting one another.

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

He was in his 80s then, but still vibrant—rarely seated, moving easily around the room and bantering with staff as they passed in and out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 31, 2026

At the Q&A session afterward, Triet and Harari were in fine spirits on the eve of the film’s release, bantering on stage about whether they’d write together again.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2023

He watched as his team batted at the start of what would be a roughly five-hour match, bantering about cricket and careers with the players, who huddled on bleachers under a small square of shade.

From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2023

His position was not much better than mine and I knew that he was uneasy and insecure; he had always treated me in an offhand, bantering way that barely concealed his contempt.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright